Distance: 25.4 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Sanxenxo

The Route of Padre Sarmiento begins by leaving the city, through the same place where the pilgrims of the Portuguese Way leave: the bridge of O Burgo. You will soon leave this route and the coastline of the Pontevedra estuary will guide you. This first stage will give you a glimpse of two key points. The first is the imposing monastery of San Xoán de Poio. You can visit its cloisters and one of the largest granaries in Galicia, a testimony to the importance of this ancient Benedictine monastery. The second is Combarro, a village of narrow streets overlooking the sea, lined with traditional fishermen's architecture. Walk along hórreos (granaries) and cruceiros (stone crosses). From there the route continues along a coast full of coves, inlets and elevated corners with great views as you head towards the end of the stage in Sanxenxo, one of the most touristy towns in Galicia.

Distance: 25.9 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
AccommodationO Grove

The second stage begins leaving Sanxenxo behind and walking along the outermost part of the Pontevedra estuary, until you leave it for good and face the open ocean. The urban beaches quickly give way to a more natural area with views of the Ons Islands.

Before reaching your destination in O Grove, we recommend you stop at the hermitage of A Lanzada, a place full of magical elements and ancestral reminiscences and one of our favourite spots on this Padre Sarmiento Route. In addition to the hermitage and the remains of a defensive tower erected to warn of Viking raids, you can see a partially excavated Celtic settlement, and discover the ancestral fertility ritual of the nine waves that is still celebrated today.

After this stop, the route continues along the long, open sea beach of A Lanzada until you reach the peninsula of O Grove. You will end up in the town that gives it its name. And here's a hint: if there is a "seafood capital" in Galicia, this is it. Don't miss it!

Distance: 29.2 km
Difficulty: ●●○○○
AccommodationO Grove

The third stage of this route is circular, which means that you will return to sleep in O Grove. The aim of the day is not to "move on", but to abandon yourself to a stroll through the natural excellences of this peninsula.

You can start on the neighbouring island of A Toxa, which can be reached by a bridge, and which houses a curious chapel covered entirely in scallop shells. From there, you will see beautiful views of the island of Sálvora, archaeological sites, lagoons and an open-air museum, culminating, 3 km from the end of the stage, at the Siradella viewpoint, which offers the most privileged views of the immense Arousa estuary.

Distance: 22.5 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Cambados

The third stage of this Route of Father Sarmiento will consist of bordering the southernmost part of the Ría de Arousa, walking among marshes and vineyards. It is not by chance. You are approaching Cambados, the centre of the Albariño culture, probably the wine most associated with Galicia.

On your arrival in Cambados you will find the fishing quarter of Santo Tomé, which still has the remains of one of the towers that formed part of the defensive system of the so-called Sea of Santiago. From there, the route becomes urban as you enter the Royal Town and approach Fefiñáns, the historic quarter at the end of which you will find the imposing pazo of the same name. Don't forget to drink an Albariño to our health!

Distance: 25,3 km / 35,1 km
Difficulty: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Vilanova de Arousa

Fifth stage of this Route of Padre Sarmiento, which begins among vineyards and passes the tidal mill of A Seca. You will soon come across the modern bridge (2 km) that connects the mainland with the island of Arousa, the largest and most populated island in Galicia. You will have to take the bridge's walkway to reach the only island municipality in Galicia, where you can enjoy an idyllic place marked by fishing tradition and surrounded by the most beautiful beaches. The fishing port of O Xufre, the Punta Cabalo lighthouse, the Os Cons route (large granite rocks sculpted by the wind and waves) and the Con do Forno viewpoint are just some of the attractions this island has to offer. And, if you feel like extending your stay on the island and are not in a hurry to reach the end of the stage, we recommend you venture into the Punta Carreirón natural park, at the southern tip of the island, extending the route by almost 10 km. At the end, you will have to return over the bridge to cover the last 7 km of the day, quickly reaching the neighbouring Vilanova de Arousa. There, the Ruta del Padre Sarmiento joins up with the Spiritual variant of the Portuguese Way.

Distance: 11.3 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: O Carril / Vilagarcía de Arousa

The seventh day is to regain strength from the long stage of the previous day with a much shorter route that will take you to Vilagarcía de Arousa, a small port town that took over from Cambados when its port was no longer accessible to the big ships of today.

The walk will give you the opportunity to continue contemplating the magnificent natural landscape of the largest estuary in Galicia, with some highlights such as the sandy beach of As Sinas and the seaside enclave of Vilaxoán. You will soon reach Vilagarcía, passing in front of the Pazo de Vistalegre, which together with its Convent form an architectural ensemble of great value. From there, the most urban section of this route will take you to the beach of Compostela and, at the end of it, to the fishing village of O Carril, built right in front of the island of Cortegada - a protected area where the largest laurel forest in Europe grows and which frames a shellfishing area that can be seen with the naked eye at low tide.

Distance: 25.6 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
AccommodationPadrón : Padrón

Penultimate stage of this complete Route of Padre Sarmiento that will take you to the confluence with the Portuguese Way to Santiago. Before that, however, you will pass through Catoira, where it is obligatory to visit the ruins of the Torres de Oeste, built in defence of Compostela and which guard the point where the river Ulla opens definitively into an estuary.

Going up it, you will reach Pontecesures and, crossing it from there, you will enter Padrón, where the main itinerary of the Portuguese Way converges. Here you will notice a considerable increase in the number of walkers: they are pilgrims on their way to Santiago and stop in this village to spend the night, like you. Do not leave without visiting the pedrón de Santiago, where legend has it that the disciples who brought the mortal remains of the apostle to Galicia moored their stone boat before continuing their journey on foot.

Distance: 24.3 km
Difficulty: ●●○○○
AccommodationSantiago de Compostela

Last stage of your journey to Santiago de Compostela. In Padrón the Route of Padre Sarmiento, the Portuguese Way and its Spiritual Variant converge, so the last kilometres that separate you from the finish line will be more crowded than the previous ones.

The Camino will take you through Iria Flavia, where the bishopric was based before the discovery of the remains of St. James in what is now Compostela, and through the sanctuary of A Escravitude, before reaching the most urbanised section, crossing O Milladoiro and entering the holy city from the south.

At the end of the stage you will find yourself at the gates of the old city of Santiago, crossing the now invisible Porta Faxeira, just as Fray Martín Sarmiento did in 1745. Congratulations: you have reached your goal.

There's nothing better to end the Padre Sarmiento Route than a stroll through the old city. Compostela Cathedral and the squares that surround it are a must, but once you have visited them, let your intuition guide you through its cobbled streets and don't miss the University -one of the oldest in Europe- and the Mercado de Abastos, full of life and incredible products.